Nettabs and google wave - two new items to enhance mobile learning

Did a catch up on various tech and edu blogs last week. Looks like there is more learning to be undertaken on mobile learning technology with the launch of two items which may assist in bringing mobile learning more into the forefront.

First up there are nettabs, which are an upgrade of netbooks and an adaptation/ improvement to current tablet laptops. Nettabs are to rise in visibility and usage in 2010.  As tablets have been on the expensive end of the market, nettabs are set to lower the cost of tablet devices, make them smaller and lighter and with more user friendly features.  The Lenova Ideapad is an example.  However, last week's much blogged announcement by Apple on their iPad  raised the bar for all nettab manufacturers. An elegant design with a price tag of US$499 for it's 16G Wifi model - making it around just over NZ$700 although may be sold here at closer to NZ$800.  A 64G ipod touch is sold at NZ$699 (which is advertised for US$399 at the US of A apple store).

The next item of interest is Google Wave.  Jane Hart provides a good review of Google Waves uses in education along with various sites and readings on it's potential. I signed up for a preview membership & email providing access arrived within 24 hours.  The main advantages to Google wave is the blending of email with IM & social networking tools which allow photos, videos and documents to be shared.  You set up a 'wave' & invite others to join you.  There are possibilities for Google wave to be easily used as an eportfolio repository.  All entries can be shared and archived. The wiki capability could then be used to do the 'showcase'/ building CV / present eportfolio part of a eportfolio. I will have a good play with Google wave over the next couple of months with ipod touch, PSP2 & mobile phone to see how easy it is to operate using mobile devices.